Arsenal have made a move for Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga, but despite the player’s openness to a transfer, it may require significant investment compared to most 16-year-old signings.
Following reports from various sources in recent weeks, Sami Mokbel reports for the BBC that Arsenal have moved for Leicester City teenager Jeremy Monga.
Monga is reportedly being courted by a host of clubs, but he’s understood to be open to joining Arsenal.
Mokbel adds that it’s unclear at this stage whether an exit from Leicester would require a tribunal to determine a transfer compensation fee.
James McNicholas writes for The Athletic that with Monga due to sign professional terms with Leicester City this summer, the player could cost £10-15m if Arsenal wanted to sign him this summer.
That would obviously be a major investment for a 16-year-old player, though Arsenal’s owners are keen on the club signing young players with room to develop.
Sam Wallace and Sam Dean had broken the news for The Telegraph in April that Arsenal were showing strong interest in Monga, hoping to steal him away for his first professional contract.
The winger had previously agreed to sign a professional contract with Leicester when he turns 17 in July, but it’s unclear whether that’s still the plan.
Even if Monga has changed his mind and refused to commit to Leicester, Arsenal would still have to pay a compensation fee to the player’s current club. That could end up leading to a tribunal, as the BBC suggest.
What will help Arsenal’s case is that Leicester have been relegated to League One. It’s going to be harder for the Foxes to convince their young talents to stick around, and the chance to leap up two divisions will probably prove an appealing one.
Monga made 10 starts for Leicester in all competitions this season, scoring one goal and assisting two more. He’s also an England u19 international, making 10 appearances for the side this season and playing alongside Max Dowman on a couple of occasions.
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